The tattoo artist at ‘Primordial Pain’ in Milan, a specialist in the freehand technique, tells us about her philosophy of life and the meritocracy of working with ink.
Where does your nickname “Ibrida” (“Hybrid”) come from?
The nickname “Ibrida” (IG: @ibrida_) came to me during my art school years, when I couldn’t identify with just one direction. I felt the need to explore everything, without having to define myself through a single form of expression. It also refers to my family’s origins, which come from different parts of the world.
I believe all this has profoundly influenced my way of being: I’ve never felt like someone who can be easily labeled, neither artistically nor personally. “Ibrida” (IG: @ibrida_) represents precisely this for me: an identity built from multiple influences, multiple languages, and multiple affiliations. A fluid person, constantly evolving, who finds strength in the fusion of different worlds and cultures.
When did the desire to become a tattoo artist first arise, and how long did it take you to realize that Tribal would be the style to define your name in the scene?
My first contact with tattoos was when my mother came home with a Tribal tattoo on her shoulder blade. I was about seven years old. At that moment, I understood that, in addition to walls, paper, and canvases, even skin could become an artistic medium. Then came the classic path: high school, tattoo studio, and apprenticeship. My approach to Tribal art occurred very gradually. Over the years, my path became more and more defined, initially traversing various stylistic approaches and languages, but one thing always remained in common: a respect for anatomy.
Whether Ornamental, Traditional, or Tribal, I have always had a strong attachment to the body’s plasticity, so I naturally abandoned stencils in favor of freehand drawing. By traveling and attending various studios around the world, engaging with different artists, visions, and cultures, I began to absorb influences from multiple directions, taking something from each experience. I admit that the Tribal on my mother’s shoulder blade may have influenced my journey from the very beginning. Thank you, Mom! (smiles)
I mentioned Tribal before, but perhaps in your case it would be better to use the term “NeoTribal”: what are the main characteristics, in your opinion, between one style and the other? Are there any stylistic rules that are broken when we talk about NeoTribal?
There are no violations. Without the existence of Tribal, NeoTribal would have no foundation. It’s important to always recognize the source of a language, even when it evolves and takes on new forms. NeoTribal arises from there: from a visual, cultural, and symbolic heritage that is reinterpreted through contemporary sensibilities. The foundations of my research are deeply rooted in the various forms of Tribal art, even when the references aren’t immediately visible. In my case, I’m influenced above all by the unique body movement of the person I tattoo, seeking to create a respectful union between tradition and my own expressive needs.
My work combines the client’s request, emotional and spiritual needs, and the search for a specific aesthetic.
Do you consider yourself more of a self-taught tattoo artist, or do you feel a deep sense of gratitude to the mentors who, throughout your career, have given you excellent advice?
I feel connected to many tattoo masters: some have played a direct part in my growth, others have touched something in me even through a book, a conversation, or a phrase heard at a tattoo convention. And there are still people I hope to meet in the future. My life is surrounded by friends I can call masters and masters I can call friends. Every day they influence me, teach me, and support me, and for this reason I feel extremely fortunate.
From the first time I saw a Guy Le Tattooer bodysuit (IG: @guyletatooer.one), to the decision to start my own body with Pierluigi Deliperi (IG: @pierluigi.deliperi). From the wonderful moments spent at ‘Twilight Studio’ in Pavia (IG: @twilighttattoopavia), to the guest appearance at ‘Seven Doors Tattoo’ (IG: @sevendoorstattoo) made possible by Jondix (IG: @jondix), to my Nepalese family at ‘Nepalinked Tattoo Festival’ (IG: @nepalinked). And then Marco Marini (IG: @lesacrelinee) and Roberto Borsi (IG: @horibudofirst), who welcomed me to ‘Primordial Pain’ (IG: @primordialpaintattoomilano). I don’t think there’s truly such a thing as a self-taught tattoo artist. If you deeply love this work, you’re always guided by your masters.
Your use of black is very pronounced, as is the way you define the outlines of your creations: does that abundance of ink (combined with precision) constitute the power of your art?
I don’t actually think the “power” of my work lies solely in the use of black. My work is born primarily from the energetic and emotional connection that’s created between me and the person in front of me. The use of black comes from the fact that I seek a Tribal reference in tattoos, something essential, ancestral, almost primitive.
Black has a very strong presence: it brings impact, depth, and a spirituality that’s difficult to explain in words.
Actually, that’s not all there is to your artistic spectrum…
Yeah, beyond that, for me, working freehand is everything. It’s the moment of maximum expressive freedom, when I have the marker in my hand and the body before me becomes almost a guide. Much like a tailor creates a suit following a shape, I construct the tattoo following the person’s energy, movement, and identity. I believe that’s the true strength of my work: each tattoo is born from a real encounter and becomes something unique and unrepeatable. Power lies not only in the mark on the skin, but in being able to bring out something that a person already feels within them, as if it had always existed. Almost a process of recognition, rather than transformation.
What was it like working at ‘Primordial Pain’ in Milan? A long-harbored dream? Or was it an almost inevitable step in giving shape to an artistic vision like yours?
For me, joining ‘Primordial Pain’ (IG: @primordialpaintattoomilano) wasn’t simply about achieving a major tattoo studio or a professional goal. It was more about feeling recognized by a vision I’d long felt was mine, a place where my artistic and spiritual pursuits could have room to evolve authentically. On the one hand, it was a dream, because I felt a strong connection to ‘Primordial Pain’s artistic and human vision. On the other, it was also an almost natural, perhaps even necessary, step in my journey.
I believe creative people function a bit like carp: they grow based on the space they have available.
The more space, the more stimuli, and the more interaction you have around you, the more you can truly evolve. And I felt the need to be in an environment that could nurture my research. Although my work has a strong contemporary and instinctive component, my roots remain closely tied to the tradition of tattooing, even in the way I experience the studio and the human environment that surrounds it.
For me, studio life is important: sharing energy, observing, comparing notes, growing together. With ‘Primordial Pain’ (IG: @primordialpaintattoomilano), I can honestly say I felt like I was in the right place at the right time in my journey. With Marco (IG: @lesacrelinee) as my guide and Roberto (IG: @horibudofirst) as my foundation, you can clearly feel the cultural baggage, the strength of tradition, and, at the same time, the drive towards innovation. I’m very grateful to be part of this family, because beyond the artistic side, there’s a genuine human dimension that is incredibly valuable to me.
What kind of summer/autumn work do you expect?
This year I’ll be very focused on Milan; I want to dedicate time to the place that’s giving me so much! In September I’ll be in Berlin at ‘Der Grimm’ (IG: @der_grimm_tattoo). In November I’ll be participating in ‘Ankonventional’ in Ancona (IG: @ancona_tattoo_expo); I find it very good for artists focused on Ornamental styles that involve a large part of the body. Then I’ll leave for Southeast Asia: ‘Nepalinked’ (IG: @nepalinked), ‘Chiang Mai Tattoo Time’ (IG: @chiangmaitattootime), and finally Australia. Between conventions, guest spots, and avoiding the European winter!
And your famous last words are…?
Tattoos are meritocratic; the more you give, the more they give back.
